Texture analysis of stained cells

Abstract

Blast cells, also referred to as immature mononuclear cells, are key indicators in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemias. Pappenheim-stained blasts exhibit a single, more or less dark magenta, generally round nucleus surrounded by light blue cytoplasm. An observer readily identifies this class of cells using common morphological criteria such as size, shape, optical density, and N/C ratio. But there also exist visually apparent textural differences in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, including vacuoles, granulation, and inclusion bodies. Current quantitative descriptions are very diffuse and complex.